WASHINGTON - The Center for
Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) today lauded the Treasury Department's proposal to
prohibit alcoholic-beverage containers that masquerade as soft drinks or frozen desserts,
especially those that are attractive to children. CSPI also applauded the department's
apparent newfound interest in possibly requiring warning notices in ads.

On the other hand, CSPI criticized the
decision to allow wine makers to put labels on bottles that might mislead some consumers
about the health effects of alcohol.

"We're disappointed that the Treasury
Department has approved two 'health effects' statements for wine labels. Some consumers
may interpret 'health effect' as 'health benefit' and end up drinking more wine than they
should."

While modest amounts of alcohol may reduce
the risk of coronary heart disease in some people, alcohol remains the third leading cause
of death in the United States. Alcoholic beverages can cause cancers of the breast, mouth,
throat, liver and colon; liver cirrhosis; and hemorrhagic stroke. Alcohol also causes
birth defects.

CSPI continues to recommend that people who
consume alcohol limit their consumption to one, or two at most, drinks per day.

CSPI is a nonprofit
health-advocacy organization based in Washington, D.C. that focuses on food safety and
alcoholic-beverage issues. It is largely supported by the more than one million
subscribers to its Nutrition Action Healthletter. CSPI led efforts to win passage
of the law requiring warning labels on alcoholic beverages.